Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.

markable results of the Democratic
Administration is the marvellous
boom in real estate in certain favor.
ed localities of the Federal City, a
movement not bona fide, but stimu-
lated by the deft Vaccinations of a
ring of landed gamblers, who are
coming fortunes out of their shrewd
enterprises. Though strange and
startling it may seem, l believe it is
nevertheless true, that President
Cleveland and one or two members
of his Cabinet are either in this spec
ulative clique or tools of it, for my
informant Is perfectly trustworthy
and seldom makes a mistake. Pres
ldent Cleveland has not yet paid for
his new home in this city, it being
given to him as an advertisement
and an incentive to purchase by
capitalists owning lots in that vicini-
ty. Mr.. Whitney has reaped rich
profit from his investment, which
probably amounted to little of real
value, by selling his suburban seat
" Grasslands," at a gain OF S75,O0O,-
900 on his alleged purchase.
The Superintendent of the Geo
logical Survey has submitted to the
Secretary of the Interior, an extern
sive plan of operations for the fiscal
year, in continuing the Topographic
cal survey of the United States. 1t
is expected that important and valu-
able scientific and meteorological re-
suits will be secured, especially as
regards the great earthquake at
Charleston last year.
Under a recent act of Congress
authority was granted for the re-
turn to the rightful owners of the
famous Twiggs swords, captured by
General Butler, at New Orleans, in
1862, and the matter has been re-
ferred to the Court of Claims by the
Secretary of the Treasury : an Eng
lish lady who says that Gen. Twiggs
presented her the swords at the
time he escaped from New Orleans,
and the executor of the Generals
estate both having filed chains to
the historic trophies.
The official ak is beginning It's fall
on the devoted heads OF the Grand
Army of the Republic men, the first
victim being Major Chas. E. Behle,
a special pension examiner, who was
a gallant Union Veteran, his only
offense being criticism in private
conversation Of the Presidents bat.
tie flag order. For this he was sum.
marily dismissed by General Black,
at least such is the supposition-as
the autocratic Official declines to
give any reason. Major Behle has
appealed from General Black to
Secretary Lamar, and while the re-
suit is awaited with interest, doubt
if the dreamy Secretary interferes
with the harmonious working of his
subordinate's boom for the Vice
Presidency. | know it to be a fact
the Pension Bureau is being used as
political agency to advance the
designs of the chief in his grand
hunt for the best Office IN sight
Facts have been distorted in the eff.
fort to show that more work than
ever, for the same time, has been
done in that Office during the pres
ent administration.
The Interstate Commission has
adjusted its first case of an alleged
overcharse by railroad for carry
ing freight-the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company, being the
defendant, and poor widow of
Washington Territory. being the
complainant for the sum of twenty
dollars.
The great Pan. Electric scandal is
again brought to the front By DIR.
Rogers, who, believing that he was
about to be defrauded, published a
notice forbidding the sale of the
stock, for which the brokers are Of
fering s12 per share. In that pub.
LEGATION Rogers bluntly uses the
names of those leading Democratic
lights,-Senator Harris, Attorney
General Garland, Gen. Joe Johnston
and Indian Commissioner Atkins.
Since the discovery of Haryey's
defalcation general and searching
Investigation has been set on foot in
the Treasury Department, and it is
said that important, if not sensa-
tional development, may be expee-